The Disappearance of Aimee (TV 1976)

In 1926, famous evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappeared for six weeks. When she surfaced, she claimed that she had been kidnapped and held prisoner in Mexico. Others claimed that she ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Harvey

Writer:

John McGreevey

Stars:

Faye Dunaway, Bette Davis, James Sloyan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Faye Dunaway	...	Sister Aimee Semple McPherson
Bette Davis	...	Minnie Kennedy
James Sloyan	...	Dist. Atty. Asa Keyes
James Woods	...	Asst. Disty. Atty. Joseph Ryan
John Lehne	...	Capt. Cline
Lelia Goldoni	...	Emma Shaffer
Severn Darden	...	S.I. Gilbert
William Jordan	...	Kenneth Ormiston
Sandy Ward	...	Judge Blake
Barry Brown	...	Wallace Moore
Irby Smith	...	Benedict
Hartley Silver	...	Clerk
Rena Andrews
Lucian Benrier
Paul Feliz

Storyline

In 1926, famous evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappeared for six weeks. When she surfaced, she claimed that she had been kidnapped and held prisoner in Mexico. Others claimed that she was off carrying on an affair with a married man. This movie dramatizes the court hearing held to determine exactly what happened.

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Plot Keywords:

character name in title

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Disappearance of Aimee (#26.1)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Tomorrow Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an interview published in the New York Times on 20 December 1993, director Anthony Harvey said that during filming of this movie, Bette Davis "absolutely took a dislike to Faye Dunaway... I would line them up for a two-shot," he said, "then look through the camera, and I couldn't see Bette." Each time, Davis had inched her chair away to evade a tete-a-tete with the younger Dunaway.

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Connections

Version of Aimee Semple McPherson (2006)

User Reviews

FAYE AND BETTE : CLASH OF THE TITANS

Incredible true story of real life preacher Aimee McPhearson and what could have really happened when, in 1926, she disappeared. Later on she reappeared insisting that she had been kidnapped. Absorbing and fascinating movie that ends with a sensational courtroom hearing. Faye is superb as Aimee and she is matched scene for scene by Bette as her mother. Their clashing acting styles pack an emotional wallop. Atmospheric direction by Anthony Harvey and great period costumes by the great Edith Head. One of the best TV movies ever made.